Cosmetic container having a clean finish

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic container is provided for a liquid product such as nail polish or lip gloss, said container comprising a container reservoir and a neck portion defining an opening and forming a cylindrical passage to the reservoir. The neck portion includes an upper surface comprising a raised lip immediately adjacent to the opening and terminating in a transition extending down and out towards the outer surface. The neck portion further includes an outer surface upon which are disposed outer threads. Closure of the container and access to the liquid product stored therein is accomplished by use of a hollow cap comprising a top having a roof and a downwardly extending wall having internal threads disposed thereon to engage the outer threads on the neck portion, and a brush extending from said roof, said brush comprising an elongated stem extending downwardly from said roof and terminating in bristles mounted thereto at the end of said stem.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation in part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/715,523 filed on Nov. 20, 2000 in the name of Robert J. Sheffler and Charles Chang for “A Cosmetic Container Having a Clean Corkage Insert,” which, in turn, is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/133,673 filed on Aug. 13, 1998 in the name of Alexandra Gordon and Charles W. Grimes for “Cosmetic Container Having a Clean Corkage Insert,” which has since issued as U.S. Letters Patent No. 6,186,689 B1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to cosmetic containers and, more particularly, to cosmetic containers having a unique finish which serves multiple functions: namely, sealing the product within the container and preventing the product from locating on top of the container finish or the container threads.

[0004] This invention is directed primarily to color cosmetic liquid products that are ordinarily applied with a brush, sponge or foamed mitt utilized with a rod or stem, which products are traditionally sold in clear glass containers having narrow threaded necks. Examples of such products include nail coatings, liquid eyeliner, lip-liner and other facial products. The cosmetic container of the present invention is designed to serve multiple functions as a sealing mechanism and as a means to keep product from locating on the top of a bottle finish or on the continuous threads about the bottle opening.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Existing cosmetic packages are subject to product migration onto surfaces where they can cause problems of inadvertently staining ones clothes or other personal property. There is also the chance of product dry-out acting as an adhesive which binds the closure to the container, complicating subsequent use owing to the difficulty in cap removal. Still another problem with the prior art cosmetic packages is that the product accumulation about the threads and around the opening to the container can give users the false impression that the container is sealed since the cover resists further tightening, thereby potentially allowing the product within the container to dry up. The function of the unique finish of the present invention is to provide the means to maintain a product-free environment about the opening to the container and at the seal therefore as well as about the threaded neck of the container, while at the same time enhancing the containment and sealing of the liquid product within the bottle.

[0007] The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,389, which issued to Vasas on Mar. 2, 1993 for a “Wiper Mounting Ring,” which discloses a rod and applicator brush for applying cosmetics. The main feature of this patent concerns a wiper for removing excess product from the brush. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,823, which issued to Spatz on Jul. 29, 1975 for a “Cosmetic Applicator” discloses an applicator for coloring eyelashes which includes a wiper for removing excess mascara from the applicator member.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,505, which issued to Dahm on Nov. 15, 1998 for a “Container with Stripper” discloses a container with a stripper which prevents excess product from depositing on the applicator. Also of interest are U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,624, which issued to Montgomery on Sep. 13, 1983 for a “Cosmetic Applicator and Container System,” and U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,996, which issued to Gueret on Jun. 27, 1989 for an “Applicator Device for a Liquid Product, Nail Varnish in Particular.”

[0009] The prior art cosmetic containers fail to adequately address the problem of liquid product accumulating at the top of the finish, thereby resulting in residual product buildup and contamination of the threads, causing drying of the product and binding of the closure assembly, as well as a propensity for residual product dry-out and corkage reduction. U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,788 B1, which issued to Gueret on Jul. 10, 2001 for a “Nail-Varnish Applicator Arrangement” attempts to solve this problem by disclosing glass container finishes that have a sharp apex in cross-section. However, this sharp edge is not entirely effective in eliminating the problem of residual product buildup. Forming the acute angles described by Mr. Gueret is not achievable in the guide rings of the glass-forming process owing to the inability to vent these rings effectively. Even if a unique method could be found to form such shapes in the guide rings, they could not be removed from the rings after molding without considerable breakage, due to the fragile nature of this feature. Furthermore, this and similar attempts result in a container having sharp cutting knife edges—a potential risk to consumers.

[0010] The prior art does not disclose the unique finish of the present invention which prevents buildup of product about the opening to the container and the threads without using a sharp and dangerous edge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Against the foregoing background, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic container having a new and improved finish for its opening that prevents the accumulation of liquid product at the top of the container.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container that prevents the accumulation of liquid product in the threads therefor, thereby causing the cap of the container to become difficult to screw on or unscrew.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container that prevents the liquid product contents from drying up when the cap is not properly attached.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container having a finish for its opening having a narrow profile, thereby reducing the amount of surface area upon which liquid product may accumulate.

[0015] But another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container having a narrow finish for its opening yet is still practical to manufacture.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container having a narrow finish that is sufficiently high to prevent the accumulation of liquid residue but not so high as to allow the cap to pick up any residual product when it is screwed onto the threads about the neck of the container.

[0017] Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container having a design that concentrates the molecular mass of the container more favorably toward the inside of the container contrasted with the outer surface of the container, thereby causing the liquid molecules to migrate to the inside of the container owing to the preferentially high molecular attraction to the liquid molecules by the denser container mass.

[0018] To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises a cosmetic container for a liquid product such as nail polish or lip gloss, said container comprising a container reservoir and a neck portion defining an opening and forming a cylindrical passage to the reservoir. The neck portion includes an upper surface comprising a raised lip immediately adjacent to the opening and terminating in a transition extending down and out towards the outer surface. The neck portion further includes an outer surface upon which are disposed outer threads. Closure of the container and access to the liquid product stored therein is accomplished by use of a hollow cap comprising a top having a roof and a downwardly extending wall having internal threads disposed thereon to engage the outer threads on the neck portion, and a brush extending from said roof, said brush comprising an elongated stem extending downwardly from said roof and terminating in bristles mounted thereto at the end of said stem.

[0019] A clean neck is achieved by keeping the top lip narrow to carry less product which may be transferred to the neck. Analyzing the drawback, the bottle neck gets coated with product when the brush leaves a residue on the lip. When the cap is replaced, it compresses the residue and spreads the product forward and to the sides. A portion leaks onto the outside of the bottle neck 10 where it is sandwiched between the neck and the cap and accumulates in the threads, thereby either causing the cap to get stuck on the neck or preventing full reattachment of the cap.

[0020] To solve the above problem, the rim width of the lip is reduced so that only a small amount of residue is deposited thereon. The lip is also kept away from the cap inside wall. More desirable, the cap is not permitted to come into contact with the lip so that contact is not made with the residue.

[0021] The first key feature of this application is the reduction of the amount of product residue left on the surface of the rim by reducing the surface area for product contamination in a cosmetic container. Then the contamination area is separated from the clean surrounding area by elevating the contamination area upward and is protected by the larger diameter of the clean surrounding area so that the cap's inner surface will not be in contact with the residue. The insert or plug is designed for the above purpose and not for the purpose of wiping the stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and other objects and advantages of this invention may be more clearly seen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0023]FIG. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the invention; and

[0024]FIGS. 2 through 7 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the various embodiments of the container of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention comprises a container 1 which, in the preferred embodiment, is used to contain liquid cosmetics such as nail enamel, liquid eyeliner or lip-liner. The container 1 includes an open neck portion 10 having an inner wall 12 which defines a columnar passage 14 through the neck portion 10 and into a hollow portion or container reservoir 16 in which the contents of the container 1 collect. The neck portion 10 also includes an outer surface 18 having threads 20, which threads 20 are adapted to engage complementary threads 22 disposed on the interior surface 24 of a cap 26.

[0026] The cap 26 includes sides 28 extending downwardly from the top 30, which sides may be outwardly or inwardly sloping, or completely vertical. The sides 28 provide a surface for gripping the cap 26 for use and twisting it in order to attach or remove the cap 26 from the container 1. Inside the hollow cap 26 is a recessed interior 32 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the neck portion 10 of the container 1. Disposed within and extending out of the recessed interior 32 is a brush 34 which includes a stem 36 extending axially through the columnar passage 14 when the brush 34 is located within the container 1, and having a tufted applicator 38 projecting outwardly from the end thereof and into the reservoir 16. The cap 26 and brush 34, including the stem 36 and tufted applicator 38, are an integral unit that may be manufactured together or separately and assembled prior to use. It should also be appreciated that the tufted applicator 38 may be replaced by any number of different elements appropriate for the application of cosmetics, including flocked tips or bristled eyeliner brushes.

[0027] The neck portion 10 terminates at the top in a finish or top lip surface 40, which lip wall 40 is designed to be as small as possible so as to minimize the total surface area upon which product may accumulate. Another design criteria is to allow the top lip 40 and cap roof 42 to be in frictional contact when the cap 26 is attached to the container 1, which contact serves to create a seal that prevents liquid product from seeping out of the reservoir 16 and onto the upper surface 44 of the lip 40 or into the threads 20, 22. In the preferred embodiment, the distance between the lip 40 and the interior surface 24 should also be as large as possible for best results, although in certain designs the lip 40 and interior surface 24 can be relatively close.

[0028] The wall thickness of the lip surface 40 less than the thickness of the neck portion 10, as illustrated in the cross-sectional FIGS. 2-7. In order to accommodate this difference in thickness, a transition 46 is provided between the lip 40 and the outer surface 18 of the neck portion 10. The severity of this transition 46 may be squared-off in cross-section, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, or tapered as illustrated in FIG. 2. The shape of the transition 46 is limited as much by manufacturing concerns as by functional considerations. In order to further narrow the lip 40, a bevel 48 may also be included at the top portion of the lip 40, which bevel 48 forms part of the transition 46, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0029] The height of the lip surface 40 is also a crucial dimension, inasmuch as it must be sufficiently high to prevent the accumulation of residue from the reservoir 16 and transition 46, but not so high that it will pick up residual product when the cap 26 is sealing to the container 1.

[0030] Another feature of the present invention that reduces the accumulation of liquid product on the lip 40 is that the interior container molecular mass 50 is preferentially dense so it attracts the molecules of the liquid product, thereby causing the molecules of product to migrate towards the mass 50 as opposed to the less dense outside of the container 1. Tests have been conducted using glass as a prototype material for the container 1 showing the efficacy of this design element. While glass is particularly suited to this design because of its relatively high density of 2.5, any number of other materials, such as plastics, would suffice, provided the molecular attraction of the interior container mass 50 is larger than the attraction outside the container. As a result of this phenomenon, containers 1 having specially-shaped lips 40 are also effective in reducing or eliminating the accumulation of liquid product thereon, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0031] While the invention has been explained by a detailed description of certain specific embodiments, it is understood that various modifications and substitutions can be made in any of them within the scope of the appended claims which are intended also to include equivalents of such embodiments. For example, while the cosmetic container 1 illustrate in FIG. 1 shows a cap 26 including a brush 34, it should be appreciated that the unique design of the present invention works equally well for containers having caps without brushes or stems. For example, the container 1 may be used for a liquid product such as a cream product or liquid foundation that is poured or scooped out of the container. The narrower lip wall 40 of the present invention reduces the amount of residue that collects on the rim, thereby reducing the possibility that the liquid product will accumulate in the threads 20. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic container for liquid products including: a container reservoir; a neck portion defining an opening and forming a cylindrical passageway into said reservoir, said neck portion having an outer surface and an upper surface including a raised lip immediately adjacent to said opening and terminating in a transition, said neck portion further including outer threads disposed on said outer surface; and a hollow cap including a top having a roof and a downwardly extending wall with internal threads disposed thereon to engage the outer threads on said neck portion and a brush extending from said roof, said brush including an elongated stem extending downwardly from said roof and terminating in bristles mounted thereto at the end of said stem.
 2. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein said transition has a rectangular, cross-sectional shape.
 3. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein said transition has a rounded, cross-sectional shape.
 4. The cosmetic container of claim 1, further including an interior container mass disposed within said container, said interior container mass being higher in molecular attraction than said outer surface, wherein the molecules making up said liquid products are attracted to said interior container mass and thereby migrate toward said mass.
 5. A cosmetic container for liquid products including: a container reservoir; a neck portion defining an opening and forming a cylindrical passageway into said reservoir, said neck portion having an outer surface and an upper surface including a raised lip immediately adjacent to said opening and terminating in a transition, said neck portion further including outer threads disposed on said outer surface; and a hollow cap including a top having a roof and a downwardly extending wall having internal threads disposed thereon to engage the outer threads on said neck portion. 